A poll released today by the Sierra Club of Michigan shows 62 percent of DTE Energy Co. customers and Michigan voters support replacing utility-owned coal burning power plants with such renewable energy sources as wind and solar.

The majority of voters and DTE customers are concerned about “asthma attacks and other potential health problems from soot, smog and other pollution from coal-burning power plants,” said the renewable energy poll. They are also concerned about water pollution and fish kills caused by coal-fired plants, the poll found.

“The results of this poll back up what we are hearing throughout Michigan – our state is ready for more renewable energy, particularly solar power,” said Anne Woiwode, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter’s state director, in a statement.

“For years, Michiganders have been strong supporters of increased renewable energy, and the poll shows that support is as strong as ever. DTE especially should take note of what their customers are saying – they want more clean energy.”

The energy telephone poll, which was conducted by Public Policy Polling, surveyed 798 Michigan voters who are DTE Energy customers and a representative sample of 670 Michigan voters statewide by telephone May 5-6.

Jim Williams, an issue polling specialist with Public Policy Polling, said the public strongly favors renewable energy in Michigan.

“It’s clear that both voters statewide and voters who are DTE Energy customers expect their state to transition to cleaner fuels,” Williams said in a statement.

Alejandro Bodipo-Memba, DTE’s manager of media relations, said DTE supports the expansion of renewable energy as part of a balanced and flexible energy policy and regulatory process.

“We’re the largest investor in renewable energy in Michigan,” Bodipo-Memba said in a statement. “We believe renewables should and will play an important and growing role in Michigan's energy future, as long at it makes economic sense and there are communities that welcome the infrastructure development needed to expand renewables in Michigan.”

By 2015, when the state’s renewable energy bill is scheduled to expire, DTE projects to invest about $1.3 billion to help achieve its state-mandated 10 percent energy production goal.

DTE plans to generate a total of 22 megawatts of solar power, which includes 15 megawatts from utility-owned plants and 7 megawatts from customer-owned projects.

Overall, including wind, DTE is producing about 1,000 megawatts of power from renewable energy, which also includes biogas and geothermal.

More public opinion

The Sierra Club also found:

• On job creation, 42 percent of Michigan voters said they believed there would be a positive impact on jobs and the state economy if the state’s 23 coal-burning plants were phased out and replaced with renewable energy sources, including solar and wind.

• Some 34 percent said there would be negative impact, 13 percent said no impact and 12 percent weren’t sure.

• DTE customers voiced similar opinions on job creation and economic impact. Some 46 percent said there would be a positive impact, 32 percent said negative impact, 14 percent said no impact and 9 percent were not sure.

• Some 59 percent of DTE customers also said they believe Michigan should invest more in renewable sources like wind and solar while 37 percent said investment should be made in traditional sources as coal, oil and gas. Only 4 percent weren’t sure.

Solar program stimulus

On Tuesday, the Michigan Public Service Commission completed its sixth and last solar work group meeting to discuss ways to improve DTE’s customer-owned SolarCurrents program, which provides financial incentives for customers to build and install rooftop solar panels.

The solar work group is also considering recommending how to stimulate community solar projects.

A draft report is expected to be released June 10 for comment with the final report released by July 1.

In November 2012, Michigan voters overwhelmingly rejected a bill that would have amended the state constitution to require utility companies increase renewable energy production up to 25 percent of utility sales by 2025.